CL Review: Bikram Yoga

Have you ever wanted to try a yoga class like Bikram, but were too nervous without hearing a review first? Well, look no further. I attended a class at my local South Pasadena Bikram Yoga studio and have all of the answers for you. For those of you who don’t know a lot (or anything) about bikram yoga, it is a demanding series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, which is suitable for all ages and levels of ability. Each posture strengthens specific muscles, ligaments and joints needed for the next posture. The Bikram method keeps you staying healthy, as well as fights against stress, diabetes, insomnia and arthritis, just to name a few.

When I first went, I was super nervous. I had only been once before, almost three years ago with my aunt, and this time I was going by myself. But I pushed myself to go and…. I LOVED it!

It certainly was a challenge, but the instructor was very nice and took extra special care of me, since she knew it was my first class. The moves themselves weren’t the hard part though, in my opinion. The hardest part for me was staying in the heated room. The average temperature during Bikram is 95-105 degrees and, especially for a first timer, the main objective of the class is to adjust to the heat and be able to stay in the room for the full 90 minutes. At times I did feel a little light-headed and needed to stop doing the poses to rest, but the heat really helped to open up by lungs and allowed my muscles to relax. At the end of the session, I felt rejuvenated, healthy and alive. It was ninety minutes of proving my mental strength. Bikram is not just any yoga, during the class you are sweating out toxins and stress and reemerge feeling like a new person.

My aunt, a bikram instructor, at a class in the middle of Times Square in NY!

I highly recommend trying this class at least once. It’s definitely not for everyone, but it’s 100% worth trying just to see what it’s all about. This website, Bikram Yoga, tells you everything you need to know about the yoga and even has a page that finds classes near you anywhere in the country. When you go, make sure that you are very hydrated, have lots of water with you and a beach towel – you will be doing a lot of sweating. Namaste!

Katie Maguire is a junior at Boston University, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in history. She is sisterhood chair of Kappa Delta Sorority and loves baking, working out and laughing with her friends!